Consent for participation

• Authors must state whether informed consent to participate was obtained when applicable.
• When an ethics committee or competent authority has approved a waiver of consent, the manuscript should identify that waiver and its ethical basis.
• Consent procedures must be appropriate to the study population, including legally authorized representatives where required.

Consent for publication

• Explicit consent for publication is required when a participant could reasonably be identified from text, photographs, imaging, pedigrees, case details, audio, video or combinations of information.
• Removing a name alone may not be sufficient anonymization when other details can identify the participant.
• Authors must retain appropriate consent documentation and provide confirmation to the Editorial Office if requested.

Case reports and identifiable clinical material

Case reports, case series and similar clinical material containing potentially identifiable participant information require appropriate consent for publication unless a lawful and ethically approved alternative applies. Authors should remove non-essential identifying details and follow relevant reporting guidance, including CARE where appropriate.

Children and participants unable to provide consent

Where participants cannot legally or practically provide consent themselves, consent or permission must be obtained from an appropriate parent, guardian or legally authorized representative as required. Assent should be sought when ethically appropriate and practicable.

Participant privacy and data minimization

• Authors should include only participant information necessary to support the scientific report.
• Direct identifiers and unnecessary indirect identifiers must be removed from manuscripts, tables, figures, supplementary files and public datasets.
• Data-sharing statements must respect consent terms, privacy obligations, legal restrictions and legitimate controlled-access requirements.

Editorial verification and post-publication action

Editors may request evidence that appropriate consent and privacy safeguards were followed. If identifiable material has been published without an adequate ethical or consent basis, JBSS may restrict access temporarily while the matter is assessed and may issue a correction, removal of unlawfully disclosed material, expression of concern, retraction or other proportionate notice consistent with preservation of the scholarly record.